We left last Thursday and made it into Doyalstown, PA to play Puck Live. The room sounded unbelievable, and the staff was very welcoming. It was a great first show of the tour, and we even ended up sippin' down some cold ones on a rooftop afterwards.
Next up was Williamsport, PA to play The Bullfrog Brewery. We pulled in early and I had a chance to see my old friend Levi at Totem Tattoo. He turned out another fantastic piece.
Much of our family came up to the show and we had a great night catching up and playing for them all. There is always something special about family support.
After a few quick stops the next day to say our goodbyes, we made it down to Alexandria, VA to play the Light Horse. The town was nice in a touristy way, and we had the chance to see some great street performers. A highlight was a guy playing the Star Wars theme song on water glasses.
As we loaded in and started to set up, we got shot down for setting up our merchandise. In all the years, this was a first. In all respect and honesty, this manager was making our night tough in more ways than one. It might have been the quietest Waylon Speed show to date... and it was STILL to loud for him. Fortunately, we STILL had a blast. Kelly and I even switched up instruments at the end for an improvisational moment. Good fun.
We stayed in a rather bizarre hotel with a courtyard that made you feel weird.
As I came in from sleeping in the van, I caught Kelly enjoying a cup of coffee by the fountain.
The setlist has been fun this tour. We are playing a bunch of old tunes (Winner's Circle, Drivin' Fast, Belt Buckle and Heartbreak Road) and getting comfy with the new ones. Many of them are starting to stick, and we have been feeling out which ones will end up on the next record. Doing this in a live setting is always best for us. We can't wait for you all to hear a few of them.
After a few quick stops, we pulled into Mulligan's in Richmond, VA. Chitwood fixed his 71' Foxx Tone Machine pedal, I got some skating in, Kelly worked on his guitar and Noah worked on a tan. It turned out to be one hell of a Sunday night show.
Here is a shot of the Virginia Pines.
Afterwards, we pulled an overnight drive into the hills of West Virginia to enjoy a day of R&R and meet up with our friend Grayson Capps who played the night before at The Purple Fiddle.
Chitwood and I got in a healthy five-hour tattoo session, and we had a chance to meet and hang out with traveling coal miners from Kentucky. Honestly, the first twenty minutes were kind of scary, but we soon realized their kind intentions. Noah got a lesson on surface mining, and tried to contract me out to do tattoos on them.
Later on, we all hung out with Grayson and band at The Purple Fiddle. We had the pleasure of seeing Stephanie Nilles, a mind blowing musician with a great sense of humor. We finished the night at The American Legion just across the parking lot from the hotel. It was a smoke filled fitting end to our Memorial Day.
Today, we are off to PJ Kelly's in Clarkesburg, WV. Thanks for reading, stay well and we will be back in touch just as soon as we are able.
Love,
Waylon Speed
5/27/2013
